Throughout the morning of September 5 – the first day of National Suicide Prevention Week – the sky was somber with scattered rain showers as if it understood the weight of the day.

By one o’clock the rain had subsided and sunlight peaked through the clouds to help brighten the Newtown Suicide Prevention Initiative’s tree planting ceremony outside the Community Center.

The public gathered around a tall, healthy Redpointe Red Maple that was recently planted to honor the memory of family, friends, and neighbors who have died by suicide.

Pictures of loved ones who were lost dangled by ribbon on the trunk of the tree while sunflowers laid at its base, their bright yellow petals reaching upwards.

Selectman Maureen Crick Owen and Anna Wiedemann, co-chairs of the Newtown Suicide Prevention Initiative, began by saying that the group works to organize events to share resources for prevention as well as for those who have gone through loss.

Crick Owen thanked Karina Brasil for her thoughtful logo that she created and The Newtown Bee for sharing information about the group.

She added, “Newtown Prevention Council had some funds left over from a grant and took it upon themselves to have a billboard for suicide prevention and it is up for one whole month, so I want to thank them.”

Wiedemann also expressed gratitude to Newtown Parks and Recreation for planting the tree for them at the Newtown Community Center.

Crick Owen went on to explain that not only is this week Suicide Prevention Week, but that September is also Suicide Prevention Month.

“During this week and month, you can find seminars, conferences, etc. to inform and engage health professionals and the general public about suicide prevention and warning signs of suicide,” she said.

“While we, the town of Newtown, have done virtual events for the public on suicide prevention, Anna and I chose to do something a little different for Suicide Prevention Week. Anna’s idea was to plant a tree in memory of loved ones who died by suicide. We chose the Redpointe Red Maple tree.”

Crick Owen explained that the tree was gifted by an anonymous donor and that they thank that person tremendously for their generosity and support.

A Redpointe Red Maple was chosen specifically because it is fast growing, will stand tall and proud, and will glow like a beacon in the fall with its red leaves.

Words Of Support

Before introducing guest speakers, Crick Owen said, “I’d like to thank Dan Rosenthal, our first selectman, for being very supportive in our initiative. Our tagline is ‘Newtown cares and we are here for you.’ We do care and we are here to help. Always, please, feel free to reach out to us.”

Rosenthal started off by “sending his love” to all those who had lost someone to suicide.

“As a community, the most important thing we can do is try to reach out, let people know that there are resources available,” he said. “The more attention we can bring to it, so that people feel more comfortable talking about what they are going through so that we can hope to try to connect them with the services that they need, and really let people know we love them and understand what they are going through, I’m supportive of anything we can do as a community.”

As a light rain began to fall again, Crick Owen shared that she lost her nephew/Godson, Matthew James Crick, to suicide when he was just 19 years young in 2007.

She explained that there are specific traditions she does to help keep his memory alive, including wearing a bracelet he made her to important events and returning to their special place of New York City each year during the holidays.

Crick Owen also shined light on the fact that she was struggling after his death and attended a survivor’s support group that positively impacted her.

“It was through American Foundation of Suicide Prevention, and I went for almost two to three years. Being around other people that suffered the same type of loss was extremely helpful to me. I learned a lot… I still go back. They have a remembrance service every December and I do go back to see the people I used to see and the new ones that are there, unfortunately,” Crick Owen said.

Every year, since 2010, she shares a different story about Matthew not only for him but to help other survivors in their healing journey.

“We are all here to remember our loved ones. We also need to remember us – and that is not being selfish. Our loved ones will always be a part of our lives,” she said. “Losing a loved one, like we have here today, is horrible. We struggle with the whys, the hows, the whats, while trying to go through the grieving process."

Crick Owen continued, “We learn to cope with our grief and each day slowly, slowly energy filters back in. And in time, the terrible loss of our loved ones becomes part of our life instead of our whole life. Depending on where you are in your journey, you might look back to those beginning days and nights and wonder how you got through. You did. We all did. We all take that journey at our own speed and in our own way.”

Crick Owen told personal stories about Matthew and invited others in attendance to share theirs.

While no one came forward to talk in front of everyone, as the rain began to come pouring down, the ceremony concluded, and everyone stayed to talk informally to one another under umbrellas.

Hotline Help

For those contemplating suicide or who know someone who is in need of immediate help, call 911.

People can also reach out for support through The Trevor Project’s lifeline number at 866-488-7386, thetrevorproject.org.

Crick Owen also shared with The Newtown Bee, “And if you are in crisis, please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 800-273-8255. Or contact the crisis text line by texting TALK to 741741. During these unprecedented times — and, in fact, any time — it is okay to not be okay. There is help and we want to inform you of those resources.”

For more information about the Newtown Suicide Prevention Initiative, contact Crick Owen at maureencrickowen@gmail.com.

Reporter Alissa Silber can be reached at alissa@thebee.com.